Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
PROVERBS 21:23
There are many interesting entries in John Wesleys journal. On June 9th, 1742, he writes of attending an unusual court case. The magistrate was a man of candour and understanding. He was to hear the complaints of some angry citizens who had brought to him a whole wagon load of these new heretics. The magistrate enquired what they had done. One of the accusers answered, Why, they pretended to be better than other people; and besides, they prayed from morning to night. But have they done nothing else? Yes, sir, replied an old man. They have converted my wife. Till she went among them, she had such a tongue! And now she is as quiet as a lamb. Carry them back, carry them back, cried the justice, and let them convert all the scolds in the town.
We may well smile at this story; yet the Word of God declares, If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this mans religion is vain (James 1:26). How deadly is the power of that little member! As the Puritan Thomas Watson put it, The sword doth not make so deep a wound as the tongue. The hasty, hurtful word we immediately regret, but cannot recall. It is well said that a word spoken is physically transient, but morally permanent. Christian, there is a time to be silent. Learn to hold thy tongue. Five words cost Zacharias forty weeks silence (Thomas Fuller). Be slow to speak. He that refraineth his lips is wiseÊ(Prov. 10:19). It has been well said, If you think twice before you speak once, you will speak twice the better for it. Pray the psalmists prayer today: Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips (Psa. 141:3).
HATEVER your especial need may be, you may readily find some promise in the Bible suited to it. Are you faint and feeble because your way is rough and you are weary? Here is the promise—"He giveth power to the faint." When you read such a promise, take it back to the great Promiser, and ask Him to fulfil His own word. Are you seeking after Christ, and thirsting for closer communion with Him? This promise shines like a star upon you—"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Take that promise to the throne continually; do not plead anything else, but go to God over and over again with this—"Lord, Thou hast said it, do as Thou hast said." Are you distressed because of sin, and burdened with the heavy load of your iniquities? Listen to these words—"I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions, and will no more remember thy sins." You have no merit of your own to plead why He should pardon you, but plead His written engagements and He will perform them. Are you afraid lest you should not be able to hold on to the end, lest, after having thought yourself a child of God, you should prove a castaway? If that is your state, take this word of grace to the throne and plead it: "The mountains may depart, and the hills may be removed, but the covenant of My love shall not depart from thee." If you have lost the sweet sense of the Saviour's presence, and are seeking Him with a sorrowful heart, remember the promises: "Return unto Me, and I will return unto you;" "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee." Banquet your faith upon God's own word, and whatever your fears or wants, repair to the Bank of Faith with your Father's note of hand, saying, "Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope."
